Adelia L Cunningham

JOHNSON-  Adelia (Tillie) Cunningham, 98, died peacefully in her home, as she wished, on Monday, August 27, 2018.  Her life was wonderfully full.  She was born Adelia Lida Mazaika on Oct. 7, 1919 in Gardner, Massachusetts, proud daughter of Lithuanian immigrants, settling and growing up in ‘The Patch’, an enclave housing immigrant families of all nationalities. She didn’t learn English until attending public school, and her ethnic heritage remained very important to her.  Education and music were prized by all, and at age 6 she began violin lessons.  While still in High School she started her own orchestra which entertained at parties, picnics, weddings and dances.  She worked as a secretary part-time, was the captain of her basketball team, and was always proud of receiving the DAR Award as a senior.  On her paper route at age 13 she met George T. Cunningham.  Throughout High School they ‘dated’, and when she turned 18 they were married, a strong and stable marriage that lasted 67 years until George’s death in 2004.  They raised a family of three daughters while George worked in a factory, and both worked their large  chicken farm.  They started and were counselors for the high school MYF group in the Methodist Church for 6 years.  When the girls were older, Adelia took a job at  Simplex Time Recorder Co. where she became head of Accounts Receivable, working there for 9 years and together they put all three daughters through college.  And it was then that Adelia herself  enrolled  at Fitchburg State College graduating with a Teaching Degree.  Their dream had always been to live and work a farm, so in their 50’s they pulled up stakes, bought a dairy farm in Johnson, VT, and Adelia started teaching in Lowell, 3rd and 4th grades. Busy times and amazing memories grew from those days with a constant flow of visiting friends and family.  Everyone loved the farm, swimming in the pond and waterfall, Adelia’s cooking and even haying!  Over the next 15 years Adelia moved from Lowell Elem. to Hyde Park Elem. to Johnson Elementary School enjoying immensely her students and job. On retirement, she took the position of Secretary of the United Church in Johnson, and helped her husband with his janitorial duties there.  Upon George’s death her life slowed down, but she still enjoyed her crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles and family.  In her latter years she became disabled needing round-the-clock care and was so fortunate to find wonderful Mary Hoadley, Carol Baker, Julia Denis and Sheri Robarge, as well as her daughter Mary to care for her.

Survivors include her three daughters, Carolyn Larson and husband Peter of Albany, NY, Mary Sullivan of Johnson, VT, Margery Ward and husband Robert of Manchester, NH; grandchildren Karen Larson of Valatie; Susan Heyman, husband Tom and their two children Matthew and Zachary of Castleton,  NY; Timothy Sullivan, wife Valerie and their three children Isabelle, George and Thomas of Johnson, VT;  S.Mazeika Sullivan, wife Gabriela and their four children Adela, Aras, Adomas and Kostas of Columbus, Ohio; Molly Sullivan-Veysey, husband Justin and their three children Tilly, Cora and Eleanor of Irasburg, VT;  Kristin Ward and partner Todd Diggins of Portsmouth, NH; Laura Brown and her husband Steve of Dover, NH, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at the United Church in Johnson on Monday, Sept.10 @ 11:00 am.

You were loved and will be dearly missed! Po ilgos keliones lai buna poilsis ramus.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Lamoille Home Health and Hospice, 54 Farr Ave, Morrisville, VT 05661 or The United Church of Johnson, Johnson, VT 05656.  The des Groseilliers Funeral Home of Hardwick, VT is assisting the family.  Visit dgfunerals.com to send online condolences.

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